Spotlight: Lindsay Cowles & Windy O'Connor

Hi There !

So Lindsay Cowles.  Artist, entrepreneur, mom to the cutest kid ever.  I'm not sure when we first spotted her textiles and wall coverings but we have been following her for a while.  Met her on an install in Richmond and have used her amazing wall coverings in several of our projects.  Previously posted "Globally Inspired" we are incorporating one of the most colorful ones so far in a dining room, and in just a few weeks we are installing this beauty in one of our Nashville jobs.

Later in the year, I have the navy version heading up to Philly, stay tuned for that !

But we have used the lighter version in a project here in Charlotte . . .

Maggie transformed this small, small home office adding her paper to the ceiling for a big wow moment when you walked in.

I have also created a space using this pattern on just an accent wall.  

Take a look at a few of our other favorites . . 

This pattern and color really popped in a project I completed a few years ago !

This black and white is on the books for our own Betsy Houck, for her master bedroom !

And this pattern, we were able to tweak slightly color wise for another accent wall in a job we completed about a year ago .

With an all white living space it really added a little drama to the entry.

Meet Lindsay . . .

And a few more of my favorites, for the color lovers . . .

Windy O'Connor, Charlotte girl.  Friend with for a long time.  Windy's business has exploded with not only creating beautiful art pieces, but now textiles !  In my last post (here) one of her patterns was the inspiration for the entire living room !  Also coming up another later this year, another O'Connor driven color design !

Take a look of my favorites !

This last pattern is the inspiration for a new local commercial salon update just started working on !

Meet Windy . . .

Two of my favorite women !  Thanks for adding the perfect touches to our spaces !

Island Vibe

Hey Again. . .

While at BHI at the end of the week installing the Freeman's we got stuck in the fog waiting for the barge.  Darn . . . too bad we were stranded in such a tacky place.  I couldn't wait to get out of there . . NOT.  Windy and Blake O'Connor's tree house, a mere 3 doors down from our install, was a little slice of heaven.  

Mekenzie, the ultimate beach lover, roamed around and caught the beauty of the island . . . fog.. what fog.  Thought I'd share.

Head to BHI on your next break, totally worth it !

(and Scott wants you to know you can rent the Marsha, Marsha, Marsha - here)

all photo by Mekenzie France

Install of the Day !

Hi There . . .

Yesterday was such a great day!  We installed a space for one of my favorites, Miss Susan Brown.  Not only do I love her spirit, my 9 year old has a huge girl crush on Miss Susan.  I think it's her love for Chanel and Louis Vuitton.  Her shoe collection alone is enough to send Kate into a frenzy.  Susan's  home is transforming room by room and with each install we fall more in love.  While she once pondered moving, we have created a space now that she doesn't want to leave !  Having finished her main living room and home office we moved into the guest room to create a cozy retreat.  But at the top of the stairs you'll find this large, empty landing.  Blank walls with a great overlook down into the living room.   We both thought it could be a cozy get away space for guests or when Susan wanted a change of visual scenery.  It needed some major style though.

Where did we start?  Art in this case.   I took Susan to Hidell Brooks Gallery, here in Charlotte, and while the options made it hard to pick just one piece, we both were drawn to this original by Windy O'Connor.  The colors were perfect in that they brought the downstairs up, but added a slash of vibrant peach, red and pink.  Art must speak to you and I love taking my clients to one of my favorite galleries to find a piece that I think will work size wise, but the ultimate decision on this major room element was all hers.  I wanted her to love it so much, that she never tired of it.  This abstracted started it all.

I worked around it, adding unique pieces, that were not only comfortable and cozy but visually interesting.  I started with an accent wall of teal grass cloth to anchor the art, positioned a custom button back love seat and flanking black metal floor lamps.  On the large wall I wanted a console, but something special.  This amazing piece, made by Chris Havey for me was just what I wanted.  I continued with more "art" in the sense of a feather turquoise juju hat and wandering metal sculpture along with a tall horn based lamp and hide storage stoop.

The straggler in this install was the rug, but totally worth the wait.  A mix of wool and silk, this graphic pattern defines the space and adds a little shimmer.  Susan wanted a big "reveal," as did I so we held off on installing this room until I had all the elements.

Now when you come up the stairs you are surprised with a cozy, artistic, little piece of heaven, as oppose to just a landing !  I absolutely love how it turned out.  It is very much my style with it's eclectic pieces and pops of color and I was thrilled to reveal it to Susan who was equally as happy !

I tried to pay attention to every detail, from the faux bois design on the splashy pillows, to enveloping art, the textured paper, a little feather and fur as well as velvet on the sofa and shape of the occasional chair.

On the eve of the install, Terri at Slate Interiors graciously opened her doors for me to snag this beautiful, last minute addition, a piece by Jennifer Levine, local Charlotte artist.  It was just the perfect piece to complete the room and create a mood as you walk up the stairs.

Lucky for me, Maggie and all of her 100 lbs, balanced on the stair railing, while I was spotting her to hang it !  

photos by mekenzie france

It turned out just as I imagined it would and was the perfect ending to a great week.

With this space done, it was time to pack for my favorite weekend of the year.  I head to NYC for the ICFF show and Kips Bay Designer House.  This trip has the added bonus of the new Charles James exhibit at the Met, in Anna Wintours new Costume Center . . . I cannot wait !!!  Maggie and I will be, according to Bree, "geeking it out" with all our design chatter . . .

Stay tuned !